second story
B1Neutral to formal, primarily used in descriptive contexts (real estate, architecture, everyday description). The criminal slang sense is archaic/informal.
Definition
Meaning
The floor of a building that is immediately above the ground floor; the second level from the ground.
1. Often used in compound adjectives (e.g., second-story window) or nouns to describe elements located on that floor. 2. In specific contexts like 'second-story work', a dated or euphemistic term for burglary involving entry via an upper-floor window.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is count-noun specific (a second story, the second story). In the UK, 'first floor' is equivalent to US 'second floor', making 'second story' less common in UK English for describing the floor level. The primary semantic domain is spatial description of buildings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Crucially, the floor numbering differs. In British English, the floor at street level is the 'ground floor', making the next floor up the 'first floor'. Therefore, 'second story' (using the US numbering) is often the 'first floor' in UK terminology. The term 'second storey' (UK spelling) is used but is less frequent than 'first floor' for that specific level.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects for the architectural sense. The criminal slang ('second-story man') originated in American English.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to direct floor-number alignment. Less common in everyday UK speech, where 'upstairs floor' or 'first floor' is preferred.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[building/room/window] + [is/located] + on the second storyThe + second story + [verb: has/contains/features] + [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “second-story man (archaic slang for a burglar)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in real estate listings and property descriptions (e.g., 'office space on the second story').
Academic
Used in architectural, engineering, or urban planning texts describing building structures.
Everyday
Used to describe the location of rooms in a house or apartment building.
Technical
Used in building codes, fire safety regulations, and construction plans.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The flat has second-storey windows overlooking the garden.
- We're planning a second-storey extension.
American English
- The fire escape was accessed via a second-story door.
- They added a second-story deck.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My bedroom is on the second story.
- The lift goes to the second story.
- We live in a second-story apartment with a nice view.
- The office is located on the second story of the building.
- Planning permission was denied for the second-story addition due to height restrictions.
- The old warehouse had its second story converted into loft spaces.
- The architect's design emphasised light, with second-story clerestory windows running the length of the gallery.
- The burglary was a classic case of second-story work, with entry gained via an unlatched bathroom window.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'story' in a book: the first story (chapter) is at the bottom, the second story is the next one up. A building's stories are like chapters stacked vertically.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUILDINGS ARE TEXTS / NARRATIVES (we 'read' a facade, buildings have 'stories').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation may cause confusion due to floor numbering. Russian 'второй этаж' corresponds to British 'first floor' and American 'second floor'. 'Second story' in the US sense is 'второй этаж', but in the UK it's 'первый этаж'.
- Avoid translating 'story' as 'история' (tale) in this context; it's 'этаж'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'second floor' interchangeably in UK context without clarification.
- Misspelling 'storey' as 'story' in British contexts (though 'story' is accepted in US English).
- Confusing 'second-story window' (location) with 'story window' (a type of window).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely British English equivalent for the American term 'second-story apartment'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, 'story' is used for all meanings (both tale and floor level). In British English, 'storey' (plural: storeys) is the standard spelling for the floor level, while 'story' is for a tale. However, 'story' is also seen in British English.
No. This is a major difference. In the US, 'second story' is the floor above the first floor. In the UK, due to the 'ground floor', the 'second storey' is the floor above the first floor, which is actually the third level from the ground. In practice, Brits rarely use 'second storey' for that level; they'd say 'first floor' (UK) for what Americans call the 'second story'.
Yes, commonly in compound modifiers like 'second-story window', 'second-story apartment'. It functions as a noun adjunct.
This is an archaic or historical slang term, primarily American, for a burglar who specializes in entering buildings through upper-floor windows (to avoid ground-floor locks and alarms). It's not common in modern usage.